Sport footwear



Apnii l5 1924.

A. HALE SPORT FOOTWEAR Filed April 28, 1923 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sron'r roo'rwmm.

Application filed April 28, 1923. Serial No. 635,350.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 11- linois, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Sport Footwear, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in sport footwear, and more particularly in footwear for golf use. As is well known the skins of alligators comprise certain knobby portions on the backs thereof. These knobby portions have heretofore been considered largely as waste material'in making alligator skins into leather for various uses. The

present invention utilizes these knobby portions of the alligator skins for the soles of sport shoes,

the invention being preferably. applied to sandals which may be slipped over ordinary shoes when the player goes to a golf course, thus avoiding the trouble and expense of providing special sport shoes for. use in the game, if the sandals be used; although it will be understood that alligator skin leather having the knobby portions referred to may be applied directly to the soles of sport shoes if desired. In utilizing the knobby portions of alligator skin leather, either in sandals to be removably at tached to ordinary shoes, or directly on the soles of sport shoes, the knobs, which are, of course, on the tread portions of the soles, are preferably arranged to run lengthwise of the soles, so that in playing golf the player will get a good side grip on the ground; although an arrangement whereby the knobs may extend transversely of the soles is to be considered within the invention, for the reason that, for some purposes, such transverse arrangement may be more desirable, as in running shoes or the like.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sandal embodying the present invention, and Figs. 2'and 3 illustrate the invention as applied to sport shoes.

Referring to the drawing, 12 denotes a sandal having a toe loop 13 and fastening straps 14, said toe loop and straps being preferably of leather. The sole portion of the sandal preferably comprises a layer 15 of stout leather to which is attached a tread portion 16 consisting of a layer ofknobby alligator skin leather, the knobs 17 being preferably arranged to extend lengthwise of the sole. Between the transverse rows of knobs are natural depressions 18 which contribute somewhat to the flexibility of the sole. The ends of the toe loop 13 and the fastening straps 14 are preferably entered between the layers 15 and 16 and secured in place by nails 19 or other suitable fastenings.

Instead of applying a layer of alligator skin to a sandal which may be removably attached to an ordinary shoe, a tread lift or layer 16 of knobby alligator skin leather may be applied directly to the sole of a sport shoe, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In thus applying the knobby alligator skin directly to the sole of the shoe the knobs 17 may be arranged to extend lengthwise of the sole of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2, or crosswise of the sole as shown in Fig. 3. This transverse arrangement of the somewhat long knobs 17 will provide very efiicient running shoes, as such an arrangement will give the wearer an efficient grip on the ground in propelling himself forward.

It will thus be understood that the inven tion provides efiicient sport footwear, and in so doing utilizes which has heretofore largely been waste portions of alligator skins.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Sport footwear having sole tread portions of knobby alligator skin.

2. Sport footwear having sole tread portions of knobby alligator skin, the knobs being arranged to extend longitudinally of the soles.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT HALE. 

